Thousands of Midland children are being prescribed powerful " mind- altering" drugs such as Ritalin inappropriately, a pressure group claimed yesterday.

The Citizens Commission for Human Rights said the practice was tantamount to child abuse with drugs being used to treat disorders that had "no scientific evidence" to support them.

It claims 345,000 children across the UK are being misdiagnosed with "disorders" such as ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Earlier this week the group took its protest to Edinburgh where the Royal College of Psychiatrists held its annual conference.

The psychiatrists' organisation refused to comment on the group's claims, instead choosing to highlight its links with the cult religion Scientology.

However the CCHR's Birmingham representative maintained many so-called "mental disorders" were created by psychiatrists and promoted by pharmaceutical companies.

Chris Wrapson, an investigator with the group, said: "The trend is that they are dispensing mind-altering psychotropic drugs to deal with and treat diseases that have no scientific evidence.

"There is no evidence that shows there is a chemical imbalance of the brain."

Mr Wrapson claimed psychiatrists were quick to label people with conditions and then find a drug to treat them with. He said in many nonacute cases people are merely responding to difficult circumstances that need to be worked through.